Rescue on the high seas

Rescuers are jubilant after the successful salvage operation of a stranded fishing boat on Saturday morning.

Harbourmaster John Lee-Richards co-ordinated the fourth attempt to haul Mike Friar’s grounded vessel off the Whatipu sand bar.

The 20-metre Sunniva got stuck in the early hours of September 16.

Mr Lee-Richards says the rescue was made all the more effective with extra help from Coastguard and Karekare Surf Lifesaving club volunteers.

"We’re pretty pleased with how it went," he says.

"We put in place a managed operation and had additional back-up plans in case things went wrong.

"And it was a team effort – the Coastguard and the lifeguards were first class."

Karekare’s Phil Parks and Karel Witten-Hannah helped tie the massive tow rope between the tug boat to the stranded Sunniva.

Mr Parks says it was anything but smooth sailing.

"We were trying to tie this knot with one-metre waves crashing right on top of us," the 52-year-old says.

"It was windy, cold and it’s a pretty ugly stretch of water. So we were getting pretty munted."

Phil says celebrations were joyous when the boat was finally freed from the sand.

"There was a lot hugging and shouting. We helped because we felt sorry for the guy and also we love our coastline."

The Karekare resident says the operation is just part of the varied and important role lifeguards play.

"It’s probably the hardest rescue I’ve done because of the inter-agency response in very challenging conditions."

The owner of the boat was not available for comment.

- © Fairfax NZ News